The biggest Independence Day parade that Your Scribe knows about is that of the tourists marching into the local convenience stores on July 4th for provisions.

That's right. Dads lumbering in to supply the troops with subs, soda, chips, beer and ice. Moms wandering down for groceries, playing cards, magazines and Raid.
Teens, doing whatever.

Independence Day is the annual high point of the tourists mixing with the locals. And it's a good thing.

So many people who summer in Maine love it like natives (maybe more, since they don't have to put up with the hard winters).

The locals like July 4th because tourism helps out almost every community that's near water - or a hiking path of more than 200 yards. But beyond that, Mainers are nice people who are genuinely friendly to visitors.

One of the best parades I've been to is in Round Pond, in the Pemaquid region. The tourists march along with the locals but they mock themselves.

Some tourists wear black socks up to their knees and carry folding beach chairs that they click open and closed in unison. (It's very funny and of course, not in unison). Everyone loves it.

The country store in my community changed ownership over the winter.

Larry the Hardworking Businessman was making money but spending almost every waking hour at the store. Or worrying about the store. (Phone call at home: "Hey Larry, get down here, there's another deer to hoist, weigh and register.")

So he sold at a good price, and returned to his old job, a 9-5 manager's post at the farmers' cooperative.

I know he was tired of the hours. I am guessing he wanted more time to pursue other interests. I saw him at a horse-riding event at the Farmington Fair once, and he had a smile on his face that I never observed when I was in the checkout line behind a dozen customers with no potential purchase of more than $9.

The new owners have really cleaned up the place. They removed the filthy, tattered carpet (before OSHA did) and put in bright, clean tiles. They also installed screen doors, and got rid of the paintball display.

I had to laugh when they erected an "Employees Only" sign in the parking lot. There are only about a dozen spots, and the thought of saving several employees a walk of 20 feet seems bizarre at this informal center of community activity.

There are several parades in my sector of Cabin Country, including those in Belgrade Lakes Village and Farmington.

I plan to attend at least one them. It can be a great experience. A lot of elderly folks come out to see people and get the fresh air, and as many kids (both local and tourist) are herded to the curbs to witness on old-fashioned community event.

Plus, taxpayers get to observe the shiny (and very expensive) cars and trucks the police and fire departments are buying under the heading of Public Safety.

In addition to watching these official parades, I will likely trek down to the local trading post myself to pick up some essentials.

The new store has the basics that I seek for the day: hot dogs, buns, chips, soda, beer and ice. Plus the local newspapers.

But these new owners have stopped stocking worms for the fishing crowd. I might make a polite suggestion that they go back to offering this time-honored bait.

Do you have a story about a summer event in Maine? If so, please comment. We are building a community, you know.

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